The domino theory was a reason for war during the 1950s to 1980s, promoted at times by the government of the United States, that speculated that if one state in a region came under the influence of communism, then the surrounding countries would follow in a domino effect. The domino theory was used by successive United States administrations during the Cold War to clarify the need for American intervention around the world.
This topic area is important to our undestanding of Australia in the lead up to the Vietnam war as it was a legitimate fear of the Menzies government and influence many of their decisions.
The Forward defence doctrine involved Australia going out of the country to prevent other countrys getting anywhere near Australia. it was like proactive defence.
The policy required troops to be deployed far from Australia’s shores, in conjunction with American forces. The implicit assumption was that the United States would feel sufficiently grateful to always back Australia militarily. But the United States bluntly refused to do so during Indonesia’s takeover of Dutch New Guinea and its “confrontation” with Malaysia in the early 1960s.
The domino theory was a reason for war during the 1950s to 1980s, promoted at times by the government of the United States, that speculated that if one state in a region came under the influence of communism, then the surrounding countries would follow in a domino effect. The domino theory was used by successive United States administrations during the Cold War to clarify the need for American intervention around the world.
This topic area is important to our undestanding of Australia in the lead up to the Vietnam war as it was a legitimate fear of the Menzies government and influence many of their decisions.
The Forward defence doctrine involved Australia going out of the country to prevent other countrys getting anywhere near Australia. it was like proactive defence.
The policy required troops to be deployed far from Australia’s shores, in conjunction with American forces. The implicit assumption was that the United States would feel sufficiently grateful to always back Australia militarily. But the United States bluntly refused to do so during Indonesia’s takeover of Dutch New Guinea and its “confrontation” with Malaysia in the early 1960s.
http://www.google.com.au/imgres?q=australian+army&um=1&hl=en&sa=N&qscrl=1&nord=1&rlz=1T4GGLR_enAU469AU470&biw=1249&bih=562&tbm=isch&tbnid=kf6Lj1n4MPxydM:&imgrefurl=http://abalinx.com/wordpress/aatti/%3Fp%3D44&docid=sSOPVu7GhYhUOM&imgurl=http://abalinx.com/wordpress/aatti/files/2011/03/r239178_967350.jpg&w=840&h=514&ei=-AJpT--RBsvAmQXl7MjoCA&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=363&vpy=288&dur=1529&hovh=176&hovw=287&tx=131&ty=110&sig=110503833907516675801&page=1&tbnh=156&tbnw=218&start=0&ndsp=10&ved=1t:429,r:6,s:0